Top 20 Food & Drink from San Diego on Instagram Influencers by Follower Growth

Last updated: September 10, 2025

Total Food & Drink Influencers in San Diego, United States of America

862

Expected Reach

9.6M

Total Followers

38.9M

Avg Engagement

5.06%

Audience Analysis

Gender Distribution

Female60%
Male40%

Age Distribution

25-3441.5%
18-2422.0%
35-4421.1%
45-547.4%

Top Countries

United States of America55.6%
Brazil5.1%
United Kingdom3.6%
Canada3.3%
India2.7%

Top Languages

en78.5%
es7.5%
pt5.6%

Top Cities

San Diego8.1%
Los Angeles3.6%
New York City1.6%
New York1.4%
Greater London0.6%

Top 20 Creators

RankInfluencerLocationFollowersEngagementMonthly GrowthScore
1
Dani Jackel
@danijackel
@barstoolsports @dirtwdani I’m not funny, just good at pranking people watch my reels👀
San Diego, United States of America
892.1K
Followers
0.76%
Engagement
+5.8%(+49.0K)
6.7
2
Mike White
@djmikewhite_
Born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, UK🇬🇧 Moved to Las Vegas in 89, performed in Vegas til 2009. Now living in San Diego as a DJ/Actor/Model/Skateboarder.
San Diego, United States of America
278.0K
Followers
0.04%
Engagement
+10.1%(+31.5K)
5.1
3
Alexia Delarosa
@lex.delarosa
good at cracking eggs 💌: alexia@clementinegroup.co
San Diego, United States of America
736.5K
Followers
0.73%
Engagement
+2.1%(+15.2K)
7.1
4
Claire
@heresyourbite
easy recipes for home cooks 🌞 san diego 💌 claire@cuagency.co
San Diego, United States of America
783.8K
Followers
N/A
Engagement
+1.9%(+14.6K)
8.2
5
Katrina Niesen | The Sourdough Mama
@the.sourdough.mama
🌸Sourdough & Art combined🌸 ✨Not selling but teaching ✨ 🌸 📧 thesourdoughmama@gmail.com 🌸 Sourdough Ebooks, workshops & supplies 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻💗
San Diego, United States of America
288.0K
Followers
0.35%
Engagement
+4.3%(+11.8K)
7.2
6
Astrid Lamarche
@austrian_cravings
Authentic Austrian baking, comfort food. Strudel classes. Bringing Austrian culture to my California home. Austrian travel stories & Gmundner ♥️🇦🇹
San Diego, United States of America
272.7K
Followers
0.42%
Engagement
+4.3%(+11.4K)
7.4
7
Vanessa T
@lets.go.nessa
Scrum-deli-i-cious recipes & lifestyle as a wife & mom of 4💕San Diego CA 🌴 📧: letsgonessa27@gmail.com 1.9M babes on TikTok
San Diego, United States of America
146.9K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+7.5%(+10.3K)
8.0
8
LATINA BARBIE 💋
@latinabarbiejesss
@FashionNova Ambassador Phx 🌵/ Sd 🌊
San Diego, United States of America
540.0K
Followers
3.36%
Engagement
+1.7%(+9.2K)
7.7
9
Lorraine Leniar
@lorraine_sd
Clorrainebooking@gmail.com @soldbylorraine @fashionnovacurve #snapchat itslorraine_sd MY ONLY PAGE 🦄 SAN DIEGO, CA ☀️
San Diego, United States of America
3.3M
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+0.3%(+8.4K)
5.9
10
Bailey Ruskus AKA Chef Bai
@chef_bai
🍑Plant Based Chef | 🌴 San Diego My cookbook ➡️ Breaking Up With Dairy dean@odysseyentgroup.com ⬇️ recipes are on substack!
San Diego, United States of America
377.2K
Followers
0.65%
Engagement
+1.9%(+7.2K)
7.9
11
Max - Miles and Points Educator / Traveler
@maxmilespoints
✈️ Teaching travel on miles & points 🗓Travel Tips & Tutorials 📧 max@maxmilespoints.com ⬇️ YouTube, Consults, Referrals, Resources
San Diego, United States of America
445.8K
Followers
0.29%
Engagement
+1.6%(+6.9K)
6.9
12
Daniella Shaba
@daniellashaba
Tiktok: d_shaba 👇🏼 4.9M+ 📩 : daniellashabateam@gmail.com San Diego 🏖️
San Diego, United States of America
143.9K
Followers
2.29%
Engagement
+2.9%(+4.1K)
5.5
13
Chumlee
@chumlee
*Pawn stars* @chumleecollects all links in bio
San Diego, United States of America
846.8K
Followers
12.03%
Engagement
+0.5%(+4.0K)
8.2
14
Ana Ramos | Tasting San Diego
@tastingsandiego
👋🏻Hey! I’m Ana. Local guide sharing SD’s best eats, stays & escapes 🌎. 📍 Food • Hotels • Hidden Gems & beyond. 📩 info@tastingsandiego.com
San Diego, United States of America
294.8K
Followers
1.08%
Engagement
+1.3%(+3.8K)
5.0
15
Carolyn | Learn Food Photography
@foodphotographymentor
🙋🏽‍♀️Food Stylist & Photography Mentor 📸Turn your passion for food photography into income 👇 Sign up for our newsletter
San Diego, United States of America
23.2K
Followers
0.44%
Engagement
+18.8%(+3.7K)
6.3
16
Chef Penny Kay
@chefpennykay
Just a 4yr-old future Michelin Star chef and her mom ✨Daddy it’s readyyyy!✨
San Diego, United States of America
207.6K
Followers
1.10%
Engagement
+1.6%(+3.4K)
7.2
17
Alexa Soto
@alexafuelednaturally
Author of Plantas Cookbook Mexican American mom San Diego
San Diego, United States of America
328.6K
Followers
3.10%
Engagement
+0.9%(+3.1K)
6.8
18
Chef Claudette Zepeda
@claudetteazepeda
She/Her/Ella San Diego📍 Mexicana/ 🩸indígena 👧🏻 of immigrants/mother Henry Crown @leu.leu.leucadia @wearechispahospitality
San Diego, United States of America
170.8K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+1.8%(+3.1K)
5.5
19
kaokao | #Dulceria #tortas #cumpleaños #postre #pasteleria
@kaokaovzla
Chef Pastelero Claudia Lira 2 Sedes ⬇️ 📍C.C .Salva Mall(antiguo Exito)Nivel Sótano, Av. Bolívar Valencia / 📍C.C. Casa Esmelada San Diego WhatsApp ⬇️
San Diego, United States of America
119.3K
Followers
0.67%
Engagement
+2.5%(+2.9K)
6.4
20
Catherine Pla
@chouquettekitchen
Sounds like Shoe-Kett Cook | Recipe Developer | Cordon Bleu Alum 📍San Diego, CA 💌chouquettekitchen@gmail.com
San Diego, United States of America
181.9K
Followers
0.44%
Engagement
+1.5%(+2.6K)
6.6

About This Instagram Influencer Ranking

Discover the most influential creators in San Diego with our comprehensive ranking of the top 20 influencers on Instagram who post Food & Drink content. This data‑driven analysis identifies the content creators who are shaping conversations, driving trends, and commanding the highest engagement rates in 2025.

Key Insights & Metrics

  • Combined Reach: 9.6M potential impressions across all ranked influencers
  • Total Audience: 38.9M followers collectively following these creators
  • Average Engagement Rate: 5.06% - significantly above industry average
  • Market Coverage: 862 total influencers analyzed in this category

Audience Demographics & Reach

The influencers in this ranking reach a diverse, global audience with primary concentrations in:

  • Top Markets: United States of America, Brazil, United Kingdom
  • Gender Distribution: 60% Female, 40% Male
  • Primary Age Group: 25-34 years (41.5% of audience)
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese

Why This Ranking Matters

For brands and marketers, this ranking provides essential intelligence for:

  • Identifying high-performing influencers for partnership opportunities
  • Understanding audience demographics for targeted campaigns
  • Benchmarking engagement rates and growth metrics
  • Discovering emerging talent with strong growth trajectories
  • Analyzing competitive landscape in Food & Drink niche

For content creators, these insights help with:

  • Understanding industry benchmarks and performance standards
  • Identifying successful content strategies from top performers
  • Network building and collaboration opportunities
  • Setting realistic growth targets based on peer performance

Methodology & Data Freshness

Our rankings are generated using advanced algorithms that analyze multiple performance indicators:

  • Profile Score: Proprietary metric combining reach, engagement, and growth
  • Engagement Rate: Average interaction rate across recent content
  • Growth Velocity: Month-over-month follower growth and momentum
  • Content Consistency: Posting frequency and audience retention
  • Audience Quality: Authenticity scores and demographic relevance

Data is refreshed weekly to ensure you're always working with the most current information. Last update includes performance data through September 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the fastest‑growing Food & Drink creator in San Diego on Instagram?

Dani Jackel (@danijackel) is, as of September 2025, the fastest‑growing Food & Drink creator in San Diego on Instagram, with +5.8% monthly growth (+49.0K followers).

How many followers did Dani Jackel (@danijackel) gain last month?

Dani Jackel (@danijackel) gained about 49.0K followers last month (+5.8%).

Who grew more: Dani Jackel (@danijackel) or Mike White (@djmikewhite_)?

Dani Jackel (@danijackel) grew more than Mike White (@djmikewhite_) (49.0K vs 31.5K).

How is Mike White (@djmikewhite_) performing right now?

Mike White (@djmikewhite_) is growing at +10.1% (+31.5K) per month, with a Profile Score of 5.1 and average engagement of 0.04%.

How is Alexia Delarosa (@lex.delarosa) performing right now?

Alexia Delarosa (@lex.delarosa) is growing at +2.1% (+15.2K) per month, with a Profile Score of 7.1 and average engagement of 0.73%.

How is Claire (@heresyourbite) performing right now?

Claire (@heresyourbite) is growing at +1.9% (+14.6K) per month, with a Profile Score of 8.2 and average engagement of N/A.

How is Katrina Niesen | The Sourdough Mama (@the.sourdough.mama) performing right now?

Katrina Niesen | The Sourdough Mama (@the.sourdough.mama) is growing at +4.3% (+11.8K) per month, with a Profile Score of 7.2 and average engagement of 0.35%.

Who had the higher percentage growth: Mike White (@djmikewhite_) or Alexia Delarosa (@lex.delarosa)?

Mike White (@djmikewhite_) leads (10.1% vs Alexia Delarosa (@lex.delarosa) 2.1%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Dani Jackel (@danijackel)?

Dani Jackel (@danijackel) gained about 49.0K followers last month (+5.8%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Mike White (@djmikewhite_)?

Mike White (@djmikewhite_) gained about 31.5K followers last month (+10.1%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Alexia Delarosa (@lex.delarosa)?

Alexia Delarosa (@lex.delarosa) gained about 15.2K followers last month (+2.1%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Claire (@heresyourbite)?

Claire (@heresyourbite) gained about 14.6K followers last month (+1.9%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Katrina Niesen | The Sourdough Mama (@the.sourdough.mama)?

Katrina Niesen | The Sourdough Mama (@the.sourdough.mama) gained about 11.8K followers last month (+4.3%).

Is Dani Jackel (@danijackel) still a relevant creator?

Yes — Dani Jackel (@danijackel) has a Profile Score of 6.7, average engagement of 0.76%, and +5.8% (+49.0K) monthly follower growth, indicating high relevance.

What is a good engagement rate for Food & Drink in United States of America?

The average engagement rate for this category is 5.06%. Generally, rates above 6.1% are considered excellent, while rates above 4.0% are good. Engagement rates vary by platform, niche, and follower count - micro-influencers often have higher rates than mega-influencers.

How is the Profile Score calculated?

The Profile Score (0-10 scale) is a composite metric that weighs several factors: 40% engagement quality, 25% audience reach, 20% growth momentum, 10% content consistency, and 5% audience authenticity. A score above 7.0 indicates a high-performing influencer, while scores above 8.5 represent elite-tier creators.

Can I use this data for influencer marketing campaigns?

Yes! This ranking is designed to help brands, agencies, and marketers identify potential partnership opportunities. The data provides a starting point for campaign planning, competitor analysis, and market research. For detailed campaign analytics and contact information, consider upgrading to our professional tools.

What does monthly growth percentage mean?

Monthly growth shows the percentage change in followers over the past 30 days. Positive growth (green) indicates gaining followers, while negative growth (red) means losing followers. The number in parentheses shows the absolute follower change. High growth rates often indicate viral content or successful campaigns.

Why should I track influencers in San Diego?

Location-specific influencer tracking is crucial for targeted marketing campaigns. Local influencers often have higher engagement rates within their geographic area, understand cultural nuances, and can drive better ROI for region-specific products or services. They're particularly valuable for retail, hospitality, and location-based businesses.

How can I improve my ranking as an influencer?

Focus on these key areas: (1) Increase engagement by creating content that encourages comments and shares, (2) Post consistently to maintain audience interest, (3) Use relevant hashtags to expand reach, (4) Collaborate with other creators in your niche, (5) Respond to comments to build community, and (6) Analyze your best-performing content and create similar pieces.

Note: This ranking represents a snapshot of current instagram influence based on publicly available data. Rankings can fluctuate based on content performance, platform algorithm changes, and audience behavior. Use this data as one of several factors in your decision-making process.